Steven Isserlis
Desert Island Discs: Archive 2005-2010
BBC
4.4 • 804 Ratings
🗓️ 2 December 2007
⏱️ 36 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the cellist Steven Isserlis. It is, perhaps, little surprise that music has been central to his life. He was born into a family that already boasted a pianist, violinist and viola player within its ranks and so, as a child, he was taught the cello because it meant they could play chamber music together. Music was so much a part of their lives, he says, that even the pet dog would howl along an accompaniment as they played.
He was seen as a brilliant young cellist but he was determined not to become a jobbing musician, touting for work in different orchestras, and as a result he suffered nearly a decade with precious few musical engagements. It was The Protecting Veil - a composition by John Tavener - that made his name and now he has become one of the world's finest cello virtuosos.
[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]
Favourite track: Erbarme Dich - Have Mercy Lord on Me by Johann Sebastian Bach Book: The collected works by Anthony Trollope Luxury: A huge, huge photo album of friends.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | You're about to listen to a BBC podcast, but this is about something else you might enjoy. |
| 0:05.4 | My name's Katie Lecky and I'm an assistant commissioner for on demand music on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:10.7 | The BBC has an incredible musical heritage and culture and as a music lover, I love being part of that. |
| 0:17.4 | With music on sounds, we offer collections and mixes for everything, from workouts to helping |
| 0:22.7 | you nod off, boogie in your kitchen, or even just a moment of calm. And they're all put together |
| 0:28.7 | by people who know their stuff. So if you want some expertly curated music in your life, |
| 0:34.9 | check out BBC Sounds. Hello, I'm Krista Young, and this is a podcast from the Desert Island Discs Archive. |
| 0:41.8 | For rights reasons, we've had to shorten the music. |
| 0:44.9 | The program was originally broadcast in 2007. |
| 1:07.8 | Music My castaway this week is the cellist Stephen Isselis. |
| 1:12.6 | His flawless technique and dedication to authenticity have brought him huge critical acclaim as the ultimate virtuoso. Yet the dream of fulfilling his artistic destiny threatened to end as a |
| 1:18.7 | nightmare with a decade in the professional wilderness, living the life of a virtually starving artist. |
| 1:24.2 | Now he ranks among the world's finest cellists, and given his background, perhaps |
| 1:28.5 | that's little surprise. Distantly related to Mendelssohn, he comes from a long line of musicians. |
| 1:34.6 | His own musical instructions started before he could write. With two older sisters playing |
| 1:39.5 | the viola and the violin, the decision was made for him that he should learn the cello. |
| 1:47.4 | That way it was easier for the family to play chamber music together. |
| 1:53.3 | Music, he says, was so central to their existence that even their pet dog used to sing along. |
| 1:54.0 | Is that true? |
| 1:55.3 | That is very true. |
| 1:55.8 | Explain. |
| 2:06.4 | Well, we had this danded in Monterea, who I adored, I'm still adore, and he would howl along when we practice, |
... |
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